A Study of a Successful Experienced Elite Handball Coach's Cognitive Processes in Competition Situations

Abstract

This study explores the cognitive management of a successful experienced elite handball coach during a competition. A coach's activity was examined based on a “single case” by analyzing the content of two types of interviews (semi-structured, stimulated recall) through deductive, then inductive approaches. Results showed: (a) in the planning phase, game plans intended for the competition were elaborated from situations that had long been mastered during training sessions: And (b) in the interactive phase on offense, the coach carried out adjustments through his players (especially the playmaker); on defense, changes were made using a basic knowledge of game systems. The coach's activity was organized into six prioritized tasks relating to: i) players' physical engagement; ii) management of collective duels; iii) management of individual duels; iv) refereeing; v) players' energy management; and vi) technical-tactical instruction to the substitutes. Cognition was principally distributed by interacting with the team's playmaker.

Effects of game location, quality of opposition and players’ suspensions on performance in elite male handball. [Efecto según el lugar del partido, la calidad del adversario y de las exclusiones de los jugadores sobre las prestaciones del balonmano masculino de alto nivel].

“…These results are in line with studies that have shown a home advantage for an animal when its territory is threatened or attacked, even when the defender is smaller than the rival, suggesting an important motivational incentive in territorial defense (Alcock, 1998). Also, these results are consistent with those of Debanne and Fontayne (2009) that carried out a case study with a two-time world champion handball coach, using a videocuing recall-stimulated interview (Lyle, 2003). They highlighted a hierarchical organization of the coach's concerns in which physical involvement is somewhat of a prerequisite before any intervention.…”

Coaches Use of Team Timeouts in Handball: A Mixed Method Analysis

“…To sum up, the decision-making process of handball coaches in relation to using timeouts is multifactorial [4,10,22] and it highlights the coach as strategist of team play. There is no one reason for coaches to use a timeout in handball.…”

“…They suggest that teams that took timeouts in the regular phases of games were 1.4x more likely to score in the timeout attack than teams that took timeouts in the last two minutes; and teams that took timeouts with a full team on the court where 1.4x more likely to score in the timeout attack compared to teams that were a man short due to a two-minute suspension. According to Debanne, Angel, & Fontayne [10] this makes sense since handball coaches emphasize a more sound defensive strategy in the later stages of matches. The findings further indicate that using timeouts in positive flow of games can have counter effects.…”

“…The handball coach is usually solely responsible for his team time-outs, especially when to use them. Decision-making is therefore central in the coaches' job [4,10]. The coach has to be a good "reader of the game" for the timeouts to be functional and effective.…”

“…The coach has to be a good "reader of the game" for the timeouts to be functional and effective. Debanne & Fontayne [10] have argued that the decision-making process of handball coaches is multifactorial where the coaches have to consider many interacting variables at any given moment, such as when and how to use timeouts efficiently.…”